Usman Khawaja's timely ton saves Australia A, presses for Test spot

Bangalore: Usman Khawaja has taken a major step towards confirming his place in the first Test against Pakistan with a maiden first-class century in India.

Khawaja provided the backbone of Australia A's innings on day one of a four-day match against India A, saving the tourists with 127 from 228 balls in a timely knock that included 20 boundaries.

Usman Khawaja has scored his maiden first-class ton on the subcontinent.Credit:AAP

It was welcome breakthrough for the left-hander, who's struggled on Asian pitches with a Test average of 14.62 on the subcontinent.

Khawaja's technique against spin has long been a headache for national selectors.

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But the 31-year-old's century in Bangalore as his teammates struggled is almost certain to be rewarded with national XI selection.

Years of hard work to fine tune his technique against spin started paying dividends during his recent English county stint with Glamorgan.

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"I've worked pretty hard over the last three or four years for subcontinent conditions or wickets that are turning," Khawaja said.

"I had a few wickets in England that were quite spin friendly when I was over there for county cricket.

"I felt really comfortable over there just giving myself options to score and having a positive mindset."

Khawaja looked at home on the Bangalore wicket on Sunday (AEST), scoring more than half of Australia A's modest total of 243.

"Once you get in it's a very nice wicket," he said. "Obviously, I haven't played in Test matches here but I've played a few tour games.

"I've played a lot in the Indian Premier League and been around players from the subcontinent.

"It's always more rewarding when you do well in different conditions."

The opener's big innings to help press his case for selection in the upcoming tour against Pakistan would have been cut short without a crucial lower-order contribution from Marnus Labuschagne (60).

Khawaja and Labuschagne both fell to seamer Mohammed Siraj, who tore through the tourists to finish with 8-59 from 19.3 overs.

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Australia will play their first Test since an ill-fated South African tour when they meet Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium on October 7-11.

The Australian team will be named at the end of the two-match series against India A.

Australia A captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss but he was among a middle order that collapsed, with Travis Head (4) and Peter Handscomb (0) also failing after Khawaja and Kurtis Patterson (31) put on 78 for the opening wicket.

Labuschagne was not in the initial 14-man squad but Matt Renshaw's hamstring injury opened the way for a late call-up.

He made the most of his opportunity, facing 105 balls for 11 boundaries in a 114-run fifth-wicket partnership with Khawaja.

India A advanced to 41 without loss with Mayank Agarwal (31) and Ravikumar Samarth (10) surviving 12 overs before stumps.